Method of distilling hydrocarbons.



R. E. HUMPHREYS. k METHOD OF DISTILLING HYDROOARBONS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1914.

1,1 19,700. y Patented Dec. 1,1914.

135a rZZ UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. HUMPHREYS, OF WHITING, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL COMPANY. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

METHUD OF DISTILLING HYDROCARBONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed lune 26, 1914. Serial No. 847,412.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. HUM- PHREYS, a citizen of the United States,,residing at Whiting, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Method of Distilling Hydrocarbons, of which the following is a specification, My invention consists in a novel method for the distillation of hydrocarbons, its object being primarily so to treat hydrocarbons of relatively high boiling-point (such, for example, as the product known in the trade as fuel-oil, a paraffin oil, the boiling point of which is upward of 500 F.), as to produce therefrom hydrocarbons of much lower boiling-point, such as the commercial product known as gasolene which is a paraffin oil of much lower boiling point.

In the practice of my process, in its preferred form, I employ as measures of commercial expediency, all the devices and processes which have been found useful for that purpose. Among these processes and devices may be mentioned the process of the Burton Patent No. 1,019,667, dated January 7, 1913, and the process of my application, SerialNo. 813,220, filed January 20, 1914. However desirable these features are in practice, they form no part of my present invention and are, therefore, not here illustrated, but are enumerated in order that those skilled in the art will understand that the highest possible efficiency requires that the present invention be supplemented by what is now the most approved practice in the same general field.

My process is preferably carried out in an apparatus, such as that herein illustrated, in which- Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 is a top plan of the apparatus, suitable for carrying out the process.

Referring. to the drawings, 3 is a still which may be of ordinary form. Extending obliquely upward from the still is a conduit consisting of two pipes 4:, side by side, each controlled by a valve 5. The pipes 4 communicate with a header 6 which opens into a condenser 7. The condensed products enter a receiving drum 8, and the uncondensed gases pass out through a rel ef-pipe 9 controlled by the valve 10.

The valve in the relief-pipe is so manipulatedlastomaintain'in the. system a pressure of this inclined conduit, or run-back, as it is commonly termed in practice, is most important. Its operation is as follows: The complicated chemical processes going on in the still produce products of varying gravitles, and consequently of varying molecular weights and boiling-points. The fractions vary the light naphthas down to fractions which are but sllghtly lighter than the raw material. The operation of the inclined conduit, or run-back, is to condense the heavier fractions of the distillate and automatically to return them to the still 3 for further treatment therein. In other words, this inclined conduit has the practical efiect of subjecting the heavier fractions repeatedly to the action of the pressure and temperature in the still, until the desired molecular re-arrangement has occurred, while permitting those fractions which have already been sufiiciently acted upon to pass over and be condensed. It is manifest, therefore, that the size and dimensions of the inclined conduit, or run-back, is of considerable importance, and I may suggest, by way of example that I have found that in the use of a still 8 ft. in diameter and 20 ft. in length an inclined conduit, or run-back, consisting of two pipes each 12 inches in diameter and 40 ft. long produces a distillate of the proper gravity for crude gasolene. The use of two pipes is advantageous because, when the end of the run approaches and the flow of the vapors is slow, one half the conduit can be closed, so that condensation can be maintained of the proper amount.

IVhile as heretofore stated, I prefer to hold the vapors under pressure throughout their course and while undergoing both the initial and final condensation, as by controlling the-relief pipe 9, it is manifest that the pressure control of the final condensa tion, 5, e; the condensation of the light ya from non-condensable gases through pors which pass from the run-back is not essential to the invention. Such fractional condensation as occurs in the run back itself, however, should evidently be under pressure for the carrying out of my process, as otherwise there would be considerable difficulty in returning the condensed fractions to the still for further treatment therein.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of the process herein shown, and I do not intend to limit myself thereto, except as pointed out in the following claims, in which it is my intention to claim all the novelty inherent in the process as broadly as is permitted by the state of the art.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of treating liquid residue of the parafiin series of petroleum distillation having a boiling point of upward of 500 F. to produce therefrom hydrocarbon oils of the same series but of lower boiling points, which consists in distilling the high boiling point hydrocarbons under a pressure of upward of four atmospheres, cooling all the vapors passing from the still While undersuch pressure to condense the heavier fractions thereof, and simultaneously returning the condensed heavier fractions to the still to undergo therein further treatment, and leading off and condensing the light vapors.

2. The method of treating liquid residue of the paraiiin seriesof petroleum distillation having a boiling point of upward of 500 F. to produce therefrom hydrocarbon oils of the same series but of lower-boiling points, which consists in distilling the high boiling point hydrocarbons under a pressure of upward of four atmospheres, cooling all the vapors passing from the still to condense the heavier fractions thereof and simulfractions to the still to undergo therein further treatment and leading off and con-w densing the light vapors, maintaining such distillation pressure of upward of four atmospheres on said vapors throughout their course to and while undergoing condensation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of June, 1914:.

ROBERT E. HUMPHREYS. In the presence of two subscribing Witnesses:

A. C. FISCHER, F. A. FL0RELL. 

